Jan Tratnik looks back at his first year with Jumbo-Visma: "It was perhaps my most successful year, even if the results don't show it"

Jan Tratnik was one of the newcomers at Jumbo-Visma last year. In his blog, the Slovenian looks back on his first season with Richard Plugge's formation, with which he is extremely satisfied despite some ups and downs.

"It is still 2023, but the preparations for 2024 have already started," said Tratnik, who is currently in the Netherlands with the rest of the team for the team days. "After my last race, Il Giro di Lombardia, I took a five-week break. I didn't just lie on the couch, but managed to combine fun and training with the Singapore and Saitama criteriums."

Read also

POLL: Men's Rider of the Year - CyclingUpToDate End of Season Awards

"When I look back at 2023, I am talking about a season full of challenges, ups and downs," Tratnik sums up. "It was perhaps my most successful year, but not entirely when I talk about the results. Well, because I was able to take another step forward, I have never ridden so fast during my career. My season started with a completely changed training program, with more emphasis on nutrition and altitude training. This has helped me to improve, and I am extremely satisfied with that."

Tratnik mainly focused on the Giro, but eventually dropped out the day before the race after a nasty fall. "I was very unlucky with that knee injury, but I managed to get into shape in time and get selected for the Vuelta. May and June were two difficult months for me mentally, because everything fell apart before the Giro. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I focused my energy at the time on finding solutions to come back as quickly as possible and even stronger."

Read also

"A well-known cyclist contacted me because he wanted some of the product" - the researcher of a special hemoglobin with extraordinary oxygen absorption

"Even if it sounds immodest: We were the greatest in cycling" - Lance Armstrong on the close bond he and Jan Ullrich share